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Back in My Body

A short documentary that I always find myself going back to on YouTube is called "Back in My Body," which follows singer Maggie Rogers, in which she discusses her inspirations behind her music and follows her journey venturing back to Alaska to perform a show. The reason this journey is so meaningful to Rogers is because two years prior on a trip to Alaska while she was in college, she had a sort of epiphany while hiking in the Alaskan landscape. This realization led her to write her popular song named after the state, which became her breakthrough into the music industry. She is also working through writing the song "Back in My Body," and debuting it live.


It's a really gorgeous film to watch. It intertwines home video style footage Rogers and her friends filmed themselves with professional videography and drone footage, which gives the documentary a personal feel. Rogers narrates the film herself, giving us insight to her music and what goes on in her mind. Calming background music is played over images of snowy mountaintops and iced-over lakes, which give the us time to breathe and reflect on what Maggie is saying. A really beautiful part of the video weaves an acoustic performance of "Back in My Body" with a full production performance of the song.

 Rogers' narrations are what really make the film so special, as she explains her new life as a musician and how she makes sense of it all. Among the most poignant words she says is that in music her job is to "see the world and report back" and to "feel things fiercely," and most importantly "to be present." I think thats's such a lovely statement, to be present for your life and instead of just idly going through the motions.

This film is something that I wish my documentary could have been like. If my team could have had our season I really feel like it could've had this quality of a behind the scenes look into our journey, being out on the road, and the relationships we formed with each other over the years. It would've been something we could've looked back on years from now, like I'm sure Maggie and her friends do. But, everything happens for a reason, and I still feel like the video I have produced has meaning.

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